Brick handling and cleaning machine



March 29 1927.

J. A. GRANT ET AL BRICK HANDLING AND CLEANING MACHINE Filed May l5. 1926March 29 1927.

l J. A. GRANT ET A1.

BRICK HANDLING AND CLEANING 'MACHINE Filed May l5. 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 2March 29 1927.

J. A. GRANT ET AL BRICK HANDLING AND CLEANING MAQHINE Filed May 15.1926' 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 lnowtoz 5 March 29 192,7.

- J. A. GRANT ET AL BRICK HANDLING AND CLEANING MACHINE Filed May l5.1926.

4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Fig. 4.

Patented Mar. 29, 1927.

UNITED STATES 1,622,869 PATENT oFFici-i.

JIM.l A. GRANT AND GEORGE A. LOWRjY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

Application led May 15,

This invention relatesy to machines for cleaning foreign substances, asmortar or cement, from used bricks, and includes in its objects theproduction of a rugged and reliable construction whereby bricks `arerapidly freed from saidy foreign substances.

A further object includes the provision of means for holding andadvancing `the bricks in rectilinear` direction and intoV position to bemet by the quickly moving cleanino* .deviceas each brick is brought intoposition. The cleanedbricks continue in their path` and are finallyremoved in any convenient manner.

Another objectincludes theproduction of a comparatively simple,self-contained, portable machine, which is capable of dealing repeatedcutting hammer blows yto the oncom- `ing bricks tothereby `free andsimultaneously remove from the opposite sides ofthe bricks the mortar orother adhering matter.

This application is a continuation in part of our copending applicationSerial Number Other objects will appear hereinafter, and

we attain these objects by the construction. `illustrated. in theaccompanying drawings, of .whichz-s l Fig. 2is anend elevation thereof.l

i ,.Fig. 3 is a viewon line 3 3 ofFig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a plan view showing the brick conveyor and the cleaner.

Fig. `5 is a view in perspective of aporti'on of the brick conveyor andholders.

Fig. 6 is a front end view of the brick'conveyor.

Fig. i

Like numerals refer to similar parts throughout the specification.

cleaning machine, we provide means for moving the bricks which are to becleaned constantly forward and directly toward the cleaning device,which, in turn, is caused to be quickly and suddenly released to meetthe individual oncoming bricks, andhit the adhering mortar on thesidesof each successive brick a quick, sharp blow in a directionopposite to that of the moving brick, thereby causing the momentum ofthe cleaning tool and that of the brick and mortar mass.

to act from opposite directions to thus more will be described morefully below.` In the `present construction of our brickl 1926. SerialNo. 109,262.

effectively remove these substances. The j cleaned bricks continue intheir course and are removed by a suitable conveyor, or other means. j

A form of construction which Lembodies the principles of our invention,and which accomplishes our objects, is illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings. In the machine herein illustrated there is provided a mainsupporting frame consisting of upper horizontal bars 10 and lowerhorizontal bars 11, i

which are united by vertical supports12, reinforced by the bars 13.Extension bars 14, 14 and conveyor guiderails 15, 15 are `fas,- tened tothe main frame and form the support for the brick conveyor, which will`be described more fullyhereinafter. n

The brick cleaning tool consists of apair of parallel arms 16, 16 whichare mounted n onaf pivot bar or journal 17 to rock-in journal boxes 18,18, carried on the main frame. A heavy weight 19 is attached to the freeends of arms 16, 16 and this weight is supplemented by springs 20, 20.One end of each of said springs is attached, at 21, to the cleaning tooland the other end` isfastened to the upright frame 22.` Cleaner blades23, having cutting edges 24 and made of properly tempered tool-steel,are detachably fastened to the inner sides of the arms 16, 16 of thecleaning toolv and held by screw bolts 25. i c

As stated above,` the cleaning tool is mounted to moveon the journal 17andv is raise-d lagainst gravity and the tension of springs 20, 2O by acam member 26. `It will be noted that the effective surface of this fmember rises vgradually and then drops ofi `abruptly to therebyGradually lift the cleaning tool and then abruptly release it on to theoncoming brick 27, `which has now been moved' into place by theconveyor,` whichv The combined action of` weight and spring, taken Withthe opposing directions of travel of the cleaningtool and that ofthebrick and mortar mass', gives an impact blow which shears and jarsofi' the adhering mortar 28 from the brick which is, yduring thisoperation, securely fastened and caused to travel through the machine.

vThe cam member 26 -iscarried on al jouriial 35 which isdriven byreduction, gears 29 and 29', respectively, on the pulley shaftwhichcarries pulley 30, andV on the cam journal 35. Pulley `30 is drivenfrom any suitable source, as a gas engine or motor M, imparting powerthrough lywheels 31 and drive pulley 31 to belt 32. Belt 32 iscontrolled by belt tensioning pulley 32, by a foot lever 33, which isheld in locked position by catch lever 34 to keep the tensioning pulleyin raised position when the drive pulley is permitted to run idly.

As stated above, the cam for operating the cleaning tool is attached toshaft 35 and driven from the selected source of power through pulley 30.The same drive operates the brick feed conveyor' pulley 36 and the brickdischarge conveyor pulley 37 through chain drives 38 and 39,respectively. rlhe brick discharge pulley 37 carries the dischargeconveyor 40, and brick feed pulley 36 and idler 45 carry the brick feedconveyor 41. The latter conveyor comprises chain links 42, carryingslats 43 and brick stops 44. This conveyor is supported over a freepulley 45 and on the conveyor guide bars 15. At the proper distanceabove the feed conveyor there are provided the brick holding devices 47and 43. These devices are carried on the frame arm 49 by ears 50, 51 and52. Ears 50 are provided with slots to provide for the inequalities ofthe brick, and the holding device 47 is tensioned on to `the bricks bysprings 53. This construction permits the holding device to move up anddown to thus hold the bricks as they are carried forward from the chute54. Holder 48 is pivotally supported on ears 51. The forward spring 55in frame 56 depresses 'this holder to securely clamp the brick while itis hit by the cleaning tool which, at the proper moment, descends andstrikes the mortar on the sides of the brick a severing blow while thebrick continues its forward movement. A shock absorber G0 engages block61 in case the mortar does not require the full blow to be removed.

The brick holders 47 and 4d are provided with roller feet GQ, to permitthe bricks to move freely, and the machine is provided with rollers 63for transportation.

From the description thus far given, the operation of the machine isapparent. The machine having been put into operation, bricks are takenfrom the chute 54 and placed sidewise on the conveyor in proper line forIthe cleaning tool. As the conveyor advances, the holding devices 4i"and 43 cngage and hold the successive bricks. As the brick reaches theproper position the cleaning tool is'released and descends lupon theoncoming brick to strike ol'l the adhering mortar or cement. The freedmortar or cement drops into a catch conveyor 64 and the cleaned brick iscarried off by a brick conveyor 65, to be delivered into a wagon ortruck, if desired. It will be noted that the Vcleaning tool is raised bythe rotating cam surface 4and that its up and down motion is timed withthe position and advance of the bricks. By varying the speed of themachine or the ratio of the drive gears, the rate at which the bricksare cleaned is varied. At the usual rate, the present machine is capableof easily and satisfactorily cleaning 50 bricks per minute. A. hood G5protects the drive mechanism.

Having now described our invention, what we claim as new and useful, ofour own invention, and desire t-o secure by Letters Patent, is

l. In a brick cleaning machine, the combination of an oscillating brickcleaning tool,

means for moving bricks in the plane of the oscillating tool, and meansfor forcibly contacting the brick cleaning tool with extraneous 'matteron the moving brick.

2. In a brick cleaning machine, the combination of a double-bladed brickcleaning tool mounted to oscillate about a fixed liournal, means foradvancing bricks to be cleaned in the path of the brick cleaning tool,means for holding the bricks to be cleaned in their line of traveltowards said tool, and means for causing the tool to forcibly meet theoncoming bricks in succession to cause the blades of the tool to strikeoff mortar and extraneous matter from the sides of the bricks.

3. In a self-contained brick cleaning Inachine, the combination of adouble-bladed brick cleaning tool mounted to oscillate about a fixedjournal, means for advancing bricks to be cleaned in the path of thelbrick cleaning tool, means for holding the bricks to be cleaned intheir line of travel towards said tool, means for causing the tool toforcibly meet the oncoming bricks in succession to cause the blades ofthe tool to strike oft mortar and extraneous matter from the sides ofthe bricks. and means for operating said tool and said conveyor.

4. In a brick cleaning machine, the combination of an oscillating brickcleaning tool, means for `moving bricks vin the plane of the oscillatingtool, means for resilientlyclamping the bricks while they are cleaned,and means for causing the brick cleaning tool to .forcibly meet theoncoming bricks to thus remove adhering mattei'.

5. In a brick cleaning machine, the co1nbination ot' a frame and aconveyor extension, a brick cleaning tool supported on said frame tooscillate in a plane determined by the medial line of said conveyorextension, a con veyor on said extension, means for causing saidconveyor to travel towards the brick cleaning tool, and means forforcibly causing said tool to descend upon the conveyor at statedintervals.

6. In a brick cleaning machine, the combination of a frame and aconveyor exten sion, a brick cleaning tool supported on said frame tooscillate in a plane determined by llf the medial line of said conveyorextension, a conveyor on said extension, means for causing said conveyorto travel towards the brick cleaning tool, means associated with saidconveyor for holding bricks to be cleaned as they move toward the brickcleaning tool, and means for rendering said brick cleaning machineeffective at predetermined intervals to impart a hammer blow toextraneous matter adhering to said bricks,

7. In a brick cleaning machine, the combination of a frame and aconveyor extension, a brick cleaning tool supported on said frame tooscillate in a plane determined by the medial line of said conveyor`extension, a conveyor on said extension, means for causing said conveyorto travel towards the brick cleaning tool, means associated with saidconveyor for holding bricks to be cleaned as they move toward the brickcleaning tool, means for rendering said brick cleaning machine effectiveat predetermined intervals to impart a hammer blow to extraneous matteradhering to said bricks, and'means for removing the cleaned brick.

8. In a brick cleaning machine, the combination of a frame and aconveyor extension, a brick cleaning tool supported on said frame tooscillate in a plane determined by the medial line of said conveyorextension, a conveyor on said extension, a brick holding memberextending above said conveyor along said medial lines, brick holdingdevices on said holding member, whereby the successive bricks aregripped and held during the cleaning process.

In testimony whereof We have hereunto set our hands on this 11th day ofMay, A. D. 1926.

JIM A. GRANT. GEORGE A. LOWRY.

